Balneology

Balneology studies the physical and chemical properties of mineral waters, methods of their use for therapeutic and medical purposes. A special part of balneology is balneotherapy. Balneology is closely related to such disciplines as physiotherapy, hydrogeology, meteorology, physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, clinical medicine and others.

The foundation for Balneology was laid as early as the 5^th century BC, when Herodotus developed the practice for treating various diseases with mineral waters. Hippocrates (5^th-9^th centuries BC) described the healing properties of river and sea waters. In the 15^th century, the Italian preacher Girolamo Savonarola published a treatise on the use of mineral springs. In the 17^th-18^th centuries, Friedrich Hoffmann, German scientist laid the foundation for the development of balneology. He was the first to determine the chemical composition of mineral waters.

In Georgia, mineral waters and mud have been used for treatment since ancient times, information about this can be found in the ancient Georgian medical monuments — Karabadini (11^th century), Iadigar Daudi (16^th century) and others. Vakhushti Bagrationi (18^th century) mentioned the baths built on the hot springs of Abastumani (“Odzrkhe”, aka “Otskhe”), as well as “Dvaletis Vedza” — gastrointestinal healing water, in the book — Description of the Kingdom of Georgia. According to N. Berdzenishvili, the healing properties of Tskaltubo mineral waters were known since the 12^th century.

Aladashvili greatly contributed to the development of balneology in Georgia. He studied the mineral waters of the Borjomi resort and defended his dissertation “The Physiological Impact of Borjomi Mineral Water” in 1911, thereby laying the foundation for the development of balneology in Georgia.

The establishment of Scientific Research Institute of Resortology in 1927, under the leadership of I. Koniashvili, greatly contributed to the development of balneology in Georgia. Tbilisi Balneological Resort was opened in 1938. In 1952, the scientific society of physiotherapists and resortologists of Georgia was established. Currently, the work in balneology is conducted by the I. Koniashvili Scientific-Research Institute of Physiotherapy and Resortology. Current issues of balneology include: Physico-chemical properties and health benefits of mineral waters, mechanisms of physiological impact of mineral waters, therapeutic impact of mineral waters and healing mud.

The following resorts have been thoroughly studied: Borjomi, Tskaltubo, Abastumani, resorts of Abkhazia, resorts of Adjara, Tbilisi balneological resort, suburban resorts of Tbilisi. More than 2,000 mineral springs of different chemical compositions have been identified in Georgia, on the bases of which a wide network of balneological resorts have been built. Several mineral waters are commercialized (“Borjomi”, “Sno”, “Nabeghlavi”, “Kobi”, “Sairme” and others).

G. Ushveridze